Display machinery



NOV. 21, 1939. LQCKWQQD A 2,181,021

DISPLAY MACHINERY Filed Feb. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sha e's 1 2 IN VENTORS '21, G. M. LOCKWOOD ET AL 2. 8 2

DISPLAY MACHINERY Filed 4, 1938 4 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS G. M. LOCKWOOD ET AL DISPLAY MACHINERY Filed Feb. 4, 1938 Nov. 21, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 4 1939- G. M. LOCKWOOD ET- AL 2,181,021

DIS-PLAY MACHINERY Filed Feb. 4, 1958, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' a 1 z fi/ 44 l INVENTORS Patented Nov. 21, 1939 DISPLAY MACHINERY George M. Lockwood, River Rouge,

Mich, and

Otto H. Schoenberger, Los Angeles County,

Calif. said berger Lockwood assignor to said. Schoen- Application February 4, 1938, Serial No. 188,599 2 In Canada July 14,1927

. 18 Claims. This invention play machinery, having objects similar to those set forth over a period of years by O. H. Schoenberger as disclosed in Patent Number 2,151,303 of March 21, 1939. The more specific objects acand to make merchandise displays more effective with the displays of signs. These objects are attained by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying four sheets of drawings, in which- Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 show the arrangement of signs and merchandise carrier elements in a novel ways: Figure 1 shows position 1 with signs flanking a leading item of merchandise on either side; Figure 2 shows position 2 where two signs are shown moved forward close to the merchandise to emphasize the display; Figure 3 shows position 3 where a sign takes the dominating position with two comparative merchandise displays at the sides af the sign; Figure 4 shows position 4 where an entirely new display has taken the stage. Figure 5 shows a further development and a duplication of Figure 4 showing additionally Figure 11, end view of two folding signs opposite each other; Figure 12, springs for tilting the signs apart; Figure 13, shows these springs which hang pivotally between pivotal signs on a crossbar; Figure 14, shows a conveyor chain with automatic releasing pawls of the selector type on an arcuate guide; Figure shows a side view of Figure 14; Figure 16 shows the top view outline of a guiding means for controlling movements of individual display elements during the course of their display and travel to and from display; Figure 17 shows a guide finger for such controls last referred to; Figure 18 shows a modification of Figure 17, only in this modification the entire guide finger will set down as shown in Figure 16-; Figure 19 shows another modification of Figure 1'7, particularly for use where the motion to he relates to improvements in dis-n the rising and turning imparted is vertical as generated over a cam as of Figure 20; Figure 20 shows a cam means for imparting vertical movements to the displays, being an elevational view of a modification of Figure 16; Figure 21 shows'a turntable mechanism for turning the view of the displays; Figure 22 shows a vertical front arrangement. The heavy dotted lines 1 and 8 indicate sprocket chains which carry the pawls 1,2, 3, 4, and 5 and operate on sprockets 9,10, H, II being a double-sprocket carries and drives both chains in the same direction and when being driven by motor power the pawls come around on their in such timely fashion one by one that in the Figures 1 to positions '1 to 4.

In position 1 it will be noted pawl l is about to engage carrier element b. In position 2 pawl I has moved carrier element b, and carrier elerier elements the carrier elements are subsequently controlled through said dogs, the chains with pawls being the actuating means. In position 2 it will also be noted that pawl 2 is about to engage carrier element 0, pawl 4 is about to engage carrier element a, pawl 3 is about to engage carrier element 7', and in position 3 they have engaged with the result shown and pawl I has placed sign carrier element b in the center of the stage as shown, with merchandise carrier elements 0 and (1 flanking the sign b. In position 4, pawl 4 has moved and passed carrier element a, pawl 5 has covered a carrier element a with sign b pawl 2 has moved carrier element 0 to the center of the stage and passed on, and

by the action of the carrier elements a, :i, 12, h, g,

f, e, d pushing each other around, against each other, when element a pushes carrier element :i, the result is that the sign d is moved forward to the position shown in Figure 4, and as the chains continue to operate the operations are repeated successively.

In order to provide an easy path and a steady mounting for the carriers the elliptical path I4 is made up of opposed channels l4, 14 as shown in Figure 'I, the upper channels being for the merchandise carrier elements and the lower for the sign carrying elements. In Figures 1, 8, and 9, the three-point suspension frogs [6 are shown, these may have pivotal joints at the spindle l3, Figure 8, and are kept in their trackways [4 by the spring I! or the pin l8, which pin I8 is a locking-pin. In the one case as in Figure 8 the pivoted member 19 has a friction-tail so that the carrier elements, if the machine is operated rapidly, will not overrun. The expansion sprin I! is adjustable. To remove any frog or carrier element the frog merely needs folding. The friction blocks or obstacles 20, Figure 1, are placed in the runways l4 in such manner and shape, when required, as to prevent the carrier elements overrunning and to tend to stop the carrier elements at predetermined points.

The chains 1 and 8 have separate runways 2| which guide them along the elliptical courses. It will be noted that pawls l and 3 are of such length, and sprockets 9, l0, and II, so placed, with relation to the elliptical pathway l4 that these pawls fixed to the chains by-pass the dogs l3 at the sprocket localities. The pawls 2, 4, and 5 are pivotally mounted on the exterior part of the chains described and so spaced and arranged that they, being longer or extending outwardly more, pick up the carrier elements which the shorter pawls I and 3 did not pick up along the run. In Figure 14 it is shown how these longer pawls are L-shaped and as in the typical case of pawl 4 as reaching position 4 the heel 22 of the pawl rides on a subtended lateral projection 23 which projection terminates at the point where the said pawl is to automatically release and the heel 22 gives way, the pawl makes a quarter-turn and releases the dog it is carrying along. In the case of pawl 5, Figures 14 and 15 show a further subtended second projecttion 24 which terminates at the position shown. Pawl 2 picks up at sprocket 9 and dumps at sprocket ll. Pawl 4 picks up at sprocket II and dumps at sprocket H).

In Figure 2 in the space occupied by carrier element 0 there are two dotted circles with a space between them, indicating that more or less carrier elements may be used, in this case twice as many of the smaller ones, and. the bracket 25 shows how sprocket 9 may be repositioned by the adjustment slot therein to meet the new arrangements required for the use of different sized carrier elements. Similarly sprocket I0 is adjustable, and the chains can be made up in any lengths.

In Figures 2 and 10 the spring .25 is shown,

This is fixedly held at a support 21 and when pawl 3 reaches the position shown the ratchet pawl 28 which has locked the carrier element there previously is released and the spring forces the said carrier element with signs thereon forward to the position shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 10.

In Figure 4 a gear reducer 23 coupled to a motor 3!! drives chain 3| continuously and the machine makes it changes according to the timing and arrangements of chains 1 and 8. In Figure 5 an additional chain 32 is shown which operates chain 33. Dogs on this latter chain are shown as projected outwardly but may be mounted on links as vertical pins and these are so placed as to come into position between the sprockets 34-34 and be engaged at proper times by protruding dogs on chain 32 which has a chain runway 35 of a suitable curve to dip the chain in for gripping or releasing the chain 33. By the proper spacing of dogs 33, 36, 36, 36 or the provision of less or additional dogs correlated to the other chain arrangements, practically any desired timing, action, or length of intermission, can be evolved by the skilled mechanic. As shrown the machine has an intermlssion between the four positions described heretofore at each such position.

It has been stated that the signs fold and sandwich between the merchandise carrier elements. This is made possible by the arrangements shorwn in Figures 11, 12, and 13 where a crossbar 31 has a vertical support 38 which fits on to the square end of the top of the spindle or dog l3 to be carried by the frog l3, and has a central horn 39 so that two signs backed to each other and hingedly fastened along their tops and having a central hole may be placed over the cross bar 31, over expanding springs 45 which are on said crossbar and which are limited in their expansion by flexible cords 4|. The result is that when signs are made and placed they are hung over the crossarms and as the carrier elements are crowded in the backstage the signs fold together and when they come to stage positions the outer signs expand outwardly at their bottoms to the stage so that the signs in view have a pleasing tilt for the observer to read, and fit in harmoniously with the same tilt of the partition 6, Figure 4.

It will be noted that reverse sides of the doublesigns 42 appear when they cross the stage and thus each item of merchandise has associated therewith two signs and twice the sign space per merchandise space, in a vertical plane consideration, i. e., the plane seen by the observer.

It is obvious that when merchandise is on display that the various sides thereof should be shown. Figure 21 shows a sprocket chain arrangement 43 which in such cases is adapted to be placed as shown in Figure 5 so that the chain 32 will drive the chain 43 by connecting dogs 44-44-44-44 consecutively, one of the dogs can be longer than the others to be the one to connect at the time such connection is wanted. On the sprocket 45 is a runway 41 as shown into which, finger 46 secured to spindle l3, Figure 18, and connected to a merchandise display element as shown in Figure '7, may run from the previous guideway 41. said merchandise carrier element takes a central position immediately over the driver 45 and the chain 43 is operated the result will be the required turntable action arranged for. It is of course obvious that a spur gear on the spindle Thus when the 3 and action, secured. The various a very flexible machine and apparatus.

I3 may be adapted to run over a rack as the carrier element'crosses the stage of the display and a turntable action procured while the element is travelling across the stage.

The signs are also subject to a turning action so we provide finger 48 which has a roller follower of either type shown and a telescopic spindle attachment as shown with a mild expansion spring 48a, Figures 17 and 19. We provide a dual guideway,, Figure 16, which follows the general arcuate path of the carrier elements below the same. The upper guideway takes fingers 45 and the lower guideway receives such fingers as 48, the spindles l3 passing through the bottomless upper guideway so that different actions may be had. In addition the bottom guideway may have a cam bottom, Figure 20, so that a rising or/and falling motion may be obtained. The spindle I3 in Figure 17 is shown presumably hollow and telescopic having the spring 6.8a to keep it vertically expanded, in this Way the finger 8 may be permitted to be acted upon vertically by the cams in the bottom of the course 47 without forcing the vertical cam action through the spindle to the display element; obviously the telescopic arrangement here described is also splined to effect the turning actions of finger 48. It will also be noted that the outline of the guideway plan, Figure 16, shows a widening towards backstage for easy passage and freedom of the carriers while passing backstage.

A multiple cam 50 shown in Figure 23 is geared in with the gear reduction of the machine to rotate once in each complete operation of the machine and has a cam follower element 5| which is held to load the cam element 50 with a tension spring element 52. The cam curves are so designed with respect to the machine load variations or the machines characteristic tendencies that during the time that the motor is running chain 32 idly or partly idle the cam element 50 is winding up or rather pulling out the spring 52 and thus the motor is held down to a more constant load and therefore a more constant speed and when the chain 32 which is the motor load tends to increase. in load the cam follower has crossed the immediate hump of the cam and the spring 52 pulls in on the steep curve 53 of the cam tending to carry and lessen the load to the degrees required according to the load characteristics and the cam design. Thus a lower powered motor will be able to carry the load, on an average basis, and a more uniform speed,

signed for the various sequences in the proper gradients and the cam adapted to the purpose.

Figures 24 and 25 show an automatic sound reproducer which has been described in Patent No. 2,151,303. The horn 54 is an extension of the inside horn 55 of the sound apparatus and clamps by means of thumbscrews as shown and fits in a receiver element 56 so that the horn may be turned up or down or sidewise, to any degree. The horn may be designed to be long or narrow or of such curves required, the objects beingto focus the sound and secure localized sound for the street and store needs.

It is obvious that this display machinery makes The above disclosure provides the skilled mechanic with all the information required to make any of various embodimentsor modifications of this type of machine. It may be beautifully draped, covlj ered with drapes hanging over it, or set oif in humps are demodernistic or futuristic art or in streamlining. The shape or size or appearan'ce'may be altered to suit the requirements.

In Figures 4 and 7 the cover 51: has aslotway for the spindles I3 to pass through, and to pass over the staging cover 57; this cover 51 may be an ornamental grille fashioned to conceal the mechanism of the machine, over which the displays are shown.

In Figure 7 the plate a, section is shown, has holes in the bottom as shown, in bosses as shown. These holes are for mounting pins-with-shoulders into, and these pins may be numerous, as well as the holes for holding the same. The shoulders of thesepins obviously keep the pins from passing through the holes, and the holes are of the proper-size to keep these pins erect; These pins may be of varied lengths so that any contour of surface may be erected on the plates to effect holding merchandise conjugally on the contours,-or holding the merchandise at any tilts desired by the under-supports of the pins.

It should be noted that the mechanism of this machine can be made of duraluminum to be light in weight. The parts, as shown in Figures 6 and can be compressed into less vertical space'so the machine need not be high, and can be flat. The carrier elements plates and sign crossarms can be removed instantly so that the mechanism can be slipped into a shallow case, covered by a lid, and carried'like a suitcase.

Chain tighteners are adjustable and placed at obvious places, the chains can be placed in properly of lengths required for the timing and actions desired, the elements are obviously made adjustable throughou, and therefore a flexible versatile utility machine ready-to-adjustment is offered for effective displays of merchandise objects, with signs, the many and novel ways described, and when required, with focused sound, to assist in the great necessity of commerce in mass distribution.

Therefore, having invented and disclosed our invention, and for service, under patent rights, we claim:

1. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting automatic means for concealing the articles behind the signs, movable members provided with means for bringing the articles one at a time-into display view from behind the signs and means for again concealing the the signs.

2. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, means for moving the articles one at a time into prominent display View, there temporarily holding the same and means formoving the signs so that one or more of the signs will be displayed at the sides of the article display and there relatively held temporarily during the display of the article.

3. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting an ticles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed,- means for moving the signs one at a time into prominent display View and means for moving the articles so that of which plate a mid-- signs to be displayed,

displayed articles behind one or more of the articles will be displayed at thesides of thedisplayed sign at the same time.

4. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, sign carrying elements adapted to fold while the signs are not on display mounted on the means for movably supporting the signs to be displayed, means for folding the signs between the articles to be displayed while they are not on display, means for unfolding the signs when said signs are in display and means for periodically displaying the articles and signs in relation to each other.

5. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, means in connection therewith for periodically displaying the articles one at a time in a prominent display position, and means adapted to periodically move one or more of the signs to the sides of the article being displayed and there to hold the same temporarily on display in a position on the bias to the front of the display apparatus.

6. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, means in connection therewith for periodically displaying the articles one at a time in a prominent display position, and means adapted to periodically move one or more of the signs to the sides of the article being displayed and there to hold the same temporarily on display, and means for tilting the signs so that when the signs are in view their bottom edges are pushed forwardly.

'7. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, means in connection therewith for periodically displaying the articles one at a time in a prominent display position, and means adapted to periodically move one or more of the signs to the sides of the article being displayed and there to hold the same temporarily on display in a position on the bias to the front of the display apparatus, and means for tilting the signs so that while the signs are in view on display their bottom edges are pushed forwardly so that the tops of the signs incline backwards.

8. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, means for moving the articles one at a time into display View position and moving two of the signs to display at the sides of the article displayed, means for alternately changing the arrangement by moving the signs one at a time into the prominent display position and moving two of the articles to display position at the sides of the sign displayed, and means for alternating the said arrangements of the displays of the articles and the signs.

9. A display apparatus comprising a carrier provided with means for movably supporting articles to be displayed and provided with means for movably supporting signs to be displayed, means for moving the articles one at a time into a prominent display position and there temporarily holding the articles relatively stationary,

means for moving one or more of the signs so that the said signs will be shown at the sides and at a distance to the rear of the article being temporarily held in the prominent display position and means for moving the said signs forward and. close to the article while the article is being temporarily held in the said display position. 10. A display apparatus comprising a support, a plurality of carrier guides mounted on the support for carrying and guiding a plurality of display elements, a plurality of object display elements movably mounted in one of the carrier guides, a plurality of sign display elements movably mounted in another of the carrier guides, mechanism adapted below the carrier guides on the support to move the carrier elements over a continuous course on the carrier guides, means for placing the sign display elements alternately between the object display elements, means for periodically displaying each object display element between two of the sign display elements and means for changing the displays of the objects and the signs adapted thereto.

11. A display apparatus comprising a support, a plurality of carrier guides mounted on the support for carrying and guiding a plurality of display elements, a plurality of object display elements movably mounted in one of the carrier guides, a plurality of sign display elements movably mounted in another of the carrier guides, mechanism adapted below the carrier guides on the support to move the carrier elements over a continuous course on' the guides, means-for placing the sign display elements alternately between the object display elements, means for periodically displaying one sign display element between two of the object display elements, and means for effecting the changes of the displays of objects and signs adapted thereto.

12. In a display apparatus, a continuous display carrier, a plurality of display carrier elements, said display carrier elements arranged to be movably mounted in the display carrier, three point suspension means for supporting the carrier elements in the carrier, means for driving the display elements around on the carrier, and means for periodically bringing the display elements into display position.

13. In a display apparatus, a plurality of arcuate raceways, a plurality of display elements adapted to be operably suspended and guided by the raceways, three point suspension members of the display elements held in the raceways, means for overlapping the three point suspension members in order to bring the display elements close together and means for bringing the display elements into display positions periodically.

14. In a display apparatus, a carrier element adapted to be supportably mounted movably in a raceway comprising a horizontal table mounted securely on a vertical spindle, said spindle supported by a three point suspension element; the three point suspension element comprising a vertical bearing for the spindle in a member having two arms pivotally connected together, one of the arms having two points of suspension in the raceway, the other arm expansibly held toform the third point of suspension in the raceway at its outer extreme, and both arms trussing each other to support the said table on the said spindle.

15. In ,a display apparatus a torque compensating means comprising a cam element arranged to be operably connected to the driving mechanism of the apparatus, a cam follower element, a spring exerting pressure against the follower element and against the cam element by means of the follower element, and cam curves on the cam element adapted to increase the tension or pressure of the spring during the lesser portions of the motor load and to return the mechanical energy absorbed by the spring to the load application during the greater portions of normal motor load.

16. In a display apparatus a display carrier, a plurality of object display elements movably arranged in the said display carrier, a plurality of sign display elements movably arranged in the said display carrier, means for individually displaying objects on the object display elements periodically and means for displaying one sign at each side of the object display on two of the sign display elements, with means for holding the displayed display elements temporarily stationary while the object being displayed is in prominent view between the said signs being displayed.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a support, a display carrier on the support, a plurality of display elements adapted to be movably mounted on the display carrier, means adapted for periodically bringing the display elements into display position, means adapted to conceal the display elements when not in display position, means adapted to shift the display elements from and to display position; turntable elements I display elements for selectively controlling the and relative movements of the several positions display and turntable elements while on display, with means for displaying segregated groups of the display elements periodically in correlation.

18. In apparatus of the class described, a support, a display carrier on the support, a plurality of display elements adapted to be movably mounted on the display carrier, means for moving the display elements on the carrier to and from display position; between said display elements sign display elements each carrying a plurality of signs, pivot members for supporting the signs on the display elements and means for turning the signs on the pivot members so as to show the signs on each sign display element in a sequential manner while they are on display.

OTTO H. SCI-IOENBERGER. GEORGE M. LOCKWOOD. 

